It can also integrate into your home network, so you can easily play audio from any device connected to your Wi-Fi without pairing anything. Wi-Fi can handle more bandwidth than Bluetooth, so it supports higher-fidelity audio. Wi-Fi audio includes standards like Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast, along with various manufacturers' Wi-Fi streaming platforms. The result isn't quite as high-fidelity or as powerful as Wi-Fi multi-room audio, however. Others can create a wireless mesh among multiple speakers for multi-room audio.
It's direct and (mostly) easy to set up, and lets you stream fairly high-quality music thanks to recent technological advancements.īluetooth generally can't facilitate multi-room setups by itself, though you can configure some speakers in stereo pairs with the help of an app. Bluetooth is a point-to-point wireless system: You pair a transmitter (your phone or computer) with a receiver (your speaker) to play music. Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Speaker: Which Is Better?īluetooth is the most common wireless music streaming standard, but it isn't the only one. Read on for our top picks, followed by everything you need to know about the different types of wireless speakers to determine which one is right for you. With that in mind, we've selected the best wireless speakers you can buy now.